Project Manager - Automation

Bilfinger UK; Lee-on-the-Solent; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Bilfinger UK is seeking a Project Manager in Fareham to lead complex engineering projects across utilities, energy, and chemicals. You will manage commercial and contractual delivery, coordinate with engineering teams, and maintain strong customer relationships while driving safety and value.

The role requires multi-discipline leadership and extensive project controls experience. Join Bilfinger UK's growing Automation team in Fareham and deliver technically compliant solutions on time and within

Qualifications

• Health and Safety is paramount in project delivery.
• Budgetary and commercial responsibilities for projects.
• Overall technical delivery and team management for nominated projects.
• Develop commercial specifications for sub-contract works.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and contractual issues.
• Experience with cross-disciplinary project teams and client relations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee commercial and contractual aspects for allocated projects.
• Coordinate with Engineering Team to ensure cost-effective, technically acceptable delivery.
• Maintain ongoing customer relationships.
• Ensure health and safety is the number one objective.
• Develop and maintain project schedule/programme with Planners.
• Manage procurement and invoicing to ensure favourable cash flow.
• Contract management and delivery of project to agreed terms.
• Lead multi-discipline teams including Automation, Functional Safety and other engineering disciplines.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Health & Safety Leadership

Contract Management

Risk Management

Multidiscipline Team Management

Commercial Awareness

Education

Degree in Engineering

APMP PMQ desirable

IET/APM membership desirable

Tools

MS Project

Primavera P6

SAP

Job description

Bilfinger is a leading international industrial services provider, driving efficiency and sustainability for the process industry. With about 31,000 employees and over €5.4 billion in revenue in 2025, we offer solutions in consulting, engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, turnarounds, and digital applications across key sectors like energy, chemicals, pharma, and oil & gas.

Shape the future with Bilfinger UK: With a strong commitment to sustainability, Bilfinger UK stands out as a premier provider of engineering and maintenance services. For over 50 years, Bilfinger UK has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation, delivering advanced solutions that support industries, infrastructure, and communities across the United Kingdom.

As a key member of the globally respected Bilfinger Group, Bilfinger UK has built a reputation as a versatile leader, offering both onshore and offshore services. From energy and utilities to pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals, the company’s broad expertise across various sectors makes it a trusted partner in the industry, as well as a work environment where you can develop your potential.

At Bilfinger, we offer a work environment where you can learn and grow. Join us and be part of a team shaping the future!

Our Automation teams deliver projects in various industries including Nuclear, Oil & Gas, Food & Beverage, Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Energy/Renewables, Data Centres and Utilities.

Our teams across Chesterfield, Fareham and Warrington deliver solutions using a wide array of technology including Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider, AVEVA, Ignition and many more. These solutions include PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, Batch, Functional Safety, OT Cyber Security and Industry 4.0.

As part of our continued growth in Automation, we are looking for a project manager in Fareham.

Roles and Responsibility

• Responsibility for a project both commercially and contractually. Work closely with the Projects and Programme Manager on all commercial and contractual aspects for their allocated projects.
• Responsibility for a project technically. Work closely with the Engineering Team to ensure that the solution provided is of minimum cost whilst being technically acceptable and in accordance with the client specifications and the Bilfinger offer. Maintenance of ongoing customer relationships

Primary Objectives

• Health and Safety – Personal Safety is the number one objective.
• Achieve overall project budgetary requirements
• Overall responsibility for complete technical delivery of nominated projects
• Overall technical and team management for nominated projects
• Maximise opportunities within allocated projects (variations, savings)
• Maximise business development opportunities with existing customers
• Manage the customer
• Ensure all contractual obligations are met by Bilfinger UK Ltd.
• Manage Company Resource with other Project Managers and Leadership Team.

Functions

Functions will typically include but not be limited to the following:

• Health and Safety. This is of paramount importance to the business. Personal Safety is the number one objective. Leadership is essential. Ensure that you work closely with the Health and Safety Team and ensure all projects and personnel are operating fully in accordance with the Company Health and Safety processes and procedures.
• Schedule Management - Develop and maintain the schedule/programme. Where applicable work with Planners to ensure effective Project control.
• Commercial Management – Achieve and better overall project budgetary requirements. Manage procurement and invoicing to ensure a favourable cash flow for the company for financial maintenance. Where applicable work with QS and Cost Engineers to ensure effective Project control.
• Contract Management – Manage and execute the project to the contract, maximising revenue and financial performance. Recognise and maximise variation opportunities and commercially manage contract variations.
• Technical Management – Be responsible in all aspects for the Technical Delivery of the Project.
• Customer Management – Be the prime customer contact for Technical and Commercial issues and ensure that the customer is both kept informed and under control by maintaining a pro‑active approach at all times.
• Sub-contract management
• Develop commercial specifications for sub contract works.
• Development of technical specifications for sub‑contracted works and the management of the works such that the requisite delivery timescales and quality standards are achieved.
• Risk Management – Work closely with the team to identify risks, consequences and mitigating actions in order to remove risks as quickly as possible (Liquidated Damages, tight delivery periods, etc.
• Internal Reporting - Submission of Monthly Progress Reports. Where applicable report to the monthly Project Board, Presentation, understanding and explanation of EV, CPI, SPI and S-Curve data.
• Strategy Development - In conjunction with the Management Team further develop the strategy for maximising the commercial returns on the project.
• Planning - In conjunction with the team identify the obligations, both in terms of activities and timescales, of all parties - client, Bilfinger project staff, Bilfinger non-project staff & sub-contractors - involved in the delivery of the project.
• Scope Management - Ensure that no additional element of scope is engineered unless there is a commercial benefit to Bilfinger either in the form of savings or an increase in overall order value.
• Multidiscipline Team Management – Management of multiple disciplines including Automation, Functional Safety and other Engineering disciplines, Control Panel Manufacture and E&I Installation. Ensure that team members are provided with the requisite task definitions, information and tools to perform the allocated tasks.
• Quality Management - Define and manage the quality objectives for the project, ensuring that they are appropriate to the client and project.
• Sales/Proposals - Report sales and business development opportunities for the sales/proposals department to follow‑up. Work with and provide assistance to Sales/Proposals department to provide expertise to opportunities.
• Resource Management. Manage company resource with assistance from the Management Team to ensure all engineers are utilised productively at all times, and customer demands are met.

Expierence

• Experience providing Health and Safety and Compliance leadership to project teams.
• 5 years experience of delivering engineering projects in the following industries:
  • Utilities – Water industry experience required

Other beneficial industries

• Nuclear (Defence/decommissioning)
• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceutical/Chemical
  • Energy/Renewables
  • Metals
  • Utilities
• Strong leadership & influencing skills
• Experience of directly managing multidiscipline project teams
• Experience managing a portfolio of projects
• Experience of working with QS, Planners and other project controls.
• Managing Customer interface and relationship
• Experience of contract management and forms of contract including:
  • NEC3/4
  • IchemE
  • Bespoke
  • CDM 2015
• Knowledge of managing all main project phases i.e. front end, detailed design, construction & commissioning phases
• Experience and familiarity with Project and Business software including MS Project, Primavera P6 and SAP

Qualifications

• Degree (desireable) in a relevant Engineering Discipline
• APMP (PMQ) or equivalent desirable
• Membership to the IET/APM or other suitable professional body.

For additional information please contact Leo Andrew Carvel Taylor by email [e-mail].

Bilfinger is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or other characteristics protected by law.